Schnelle & Carrington
Wedding Party
Rose Goodridge
Mother of the Bride
She is my Mom and I’ve known her my entire life! I get my creativity, love of fashion, and grit from her. She has been designing and making clothes for me since I was born and I am forever appreciative. She made our engagement outfits and my wedding dress! The older I get the more I see I’m becoming my mom and I couldn’t be happier.
Faye Moore
Mother of the Groom
I miss my Mom. I know that she would love Schnelle and that brings me great joy. My mom was brilliant, funny, and loved me well. Growing up she was my first love. I still can remember the ways my mother would look at me. She looked at me like I was the most important person in the world and her love for me would shine through her smile and her eyes. My mother’s laugh was infectious. When she laughed you could not help but laugh too. I want to continue to live my life in such a way to honor who she was and what she instilled in me.
Harold Shelby
Father of the Bride
He is my Dad and I’ve known him my whole life. I get my handiness, love of shoes, and tenacity from him. He also taught me how to tie a mean Windsor knot when I was twelve, which proved lucrative in college as I charged $5 per knot. If you are into jazz, cars, or motorcycles he is your guy to talk to!
George Moore
Father of the Groom
My Dad is my hero. I still just want to be like my Dad as I get older. My love for church, ministry, communal transformation and serving others was modeled by my Dad growing up. My Pops has style, grace and is just an all-around cool brother. When I was 12, I was the fastest person in my elementary school. I challenged my Dad to a race, and he beat me. To this day I still want a rematch. My favorite memories with my Dad are riding around town listening to BeBe & CeCe, Winans, Men of Standard and Youth Edition. I still listen to these musical artists today. My love for storytelling begins with my Dad. He often tells the most vivid, insightful, and funny stories. My father taught me the value of just being a kind person. He would tell me growing up “being a good person goes a long way.”
Mark Solari
Father of the Bride
He is my Dad and I’ve known him since I was about 5 years old. I get my wonder, creativity, and love of astrology from him. Geeking out over school art projects and all the dioramas together is probably why I’ve won almost every art competition I’ve been in. If you are ever on a game show and you need to phone a friend, call him! He knows something about everything!
Sheila Moore
Mother of the Groom
I was blessed with a second Mom when I was five when Sheila and my Dad got married. My love for gospel music starts with Sheila. Whenever we were in the car together, we listened to Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary, Hezekiah Walker and John P. Kee. One of my greatest memories is Sheila teaching me how to drive. I was bad at driving at first. I literally almost gave up, but Sheila came to the rescue. Whatever I needed growing up, Sheila was always there. I am deeply grateful for how my parents modeled marriage for me. They made partnership look fun. Sheila prays for me and continues to love me well.
Nhia Solari
Woman of Honor
Pronounced “Knee-uh” is my youngest sister and all around amazing human. We met in our living room a couple of decades ago where she was born and we have been quite the duo ever since. When Nhia was a toddler, I was headed to college and was a bit gloomy about leaving home. She picked up on that and offered to hide me in a tree so I wouldn’t have to leave. That’s who Nhia is. She is caring, thoughtful, and has been supportive of me from the beginning. She is my practice child, forever Taboo partner (sorry Carrington), and Harry Potter marathon companion.
Kyle Moore
Best Man
I have known Kyle all his life. Kyle is the coolest and kindest person that I know. He has the charisma to light up a room and the emotional intelligence to provide healing and comfort to others around him. I am immensely proud of Kyle and the man he has become. Kyle is a much better basketball player than me. However, I made sure I beat him in one-on-one when he was younger to make sure I had a jumpstart on bragging rights. He might have won the last couple times, but I still have a winning record against him. I am grateful that I can have my brother right by my side for this amazing moment in my life.
Anwar Beatty
Bridesman
Pronounced “Ann-war” is my best friend from college. We met during pre-admission orientation and bonded over both being Virgos, New Yorkers, and our love of dance. Twenty-one years ago we promised one another we would be in each other’s wedding (I was a fabulous groomswoman)! Even if we didn’t make a promise this decision was a no brainer. He keeps me grounded, listens patiently/impatiently to ALL of my real problems, make believe problems, and problems that were already resolved.
Micah Christian
Groomsman
I met Micah in 2010 during my first week of seminary. Our friendship was fostered through serving together as graduate resident assistants and talking about theologians like Howard Thurman, Henri Nouwen, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I have so many memories with Micah and most involve insane moments of laughter. I have been moved to tears multiple times from laughing at the stories Micah tells. Fast forward to 2014, Micah and I decided to start a business which resulted with me creating a profile on match.com to do research. That’s how I met Schnelle. Thanks Micah!
Richard Clarke
Bridesman
We formally met in 2013 when I made him become my friend. We kept running into each other at concerts, art shows, and sporting events in Boston prior to 2013. I decided next time I saw him I was going to make him my friend because we obviously like the same things. Ever since then we would go to the same events on purpose. Richard is one of the chillest people I know and always down for an adventure. By the way, he loves to cook and always has a recipe to share.
Ely Ducatel
Groomsman
I met Ely because he tried to steal my time slot with my writing tutor in college. We still laugh about that. We grew together as great friends while we were part of a college group called InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Our friendship is full of late-night Bible Studies on campus, basketball meetups and moving conversations about our dreams and aspirations. I admire Ely for his compassion, devotion to his family, and radical kindness towards others.
Dr. Aderonke Oguntoye
Brideswoman
We call her Ronke pronounced “Ron-kay” but her whole name is “Ah-Day-Ron-Kay”. I met Ronke around 2007 through a mutual friend. The first time I met her I puked in her bathroom and summarily fell asleep on her living room floor (wisdom teeth extraction debacle). Fair to say I’m comfortable around her. We have since shared many a Sunday funday brunches, international travel adventures, and music festivals together.
Michael Gibson
Groomsman
Michael and I go all the way back to freshmen basketball together at Chaney high school where we first met. Michael has been part of my core group of friends since high school and it has been a joy to watch him grow as an entrepreneur, husband, and father. Michael marches to the beat of his heart and it continues to inspire me to pursue my dreams and passions.
Dr. Whitney Irie
Brideswoman
I met Whitney in 2004 when she was pursing membership into our illustrious sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. While I may have been her Big Sister, I have learned so much from her about love, acceptance, and boundaries that the roles may be reversed. While Delta brought us together our friendship has blossomed and I’m forever grateful for her. We have bonded over our love of fitness, greek mythology, astrology and everything in between.
Clarence Howell
Groomsman
Clarence and I met back in 1st grade and we were drawn to each other because we both were rocking the same Air Jordan 8’s. Clarence’s elementary sleep overs were epic and still offer great laughs. Clarence freely gives from his heart and is a blessing to everyone around him. I spent my 30th Birthday with Clarence in Houston and we literally spent hours trying to destroy middle school and high school students in laser tag and go-kart racing. Having Clarence as a friend is phenomenal fun coupled with the privilege of being encouraged to grow into your best self.
Stephenie Stewart
Brideswoman / Flower Woman
We became best friends when we transferred to the same high school our junior year. I would not have made it through high school without her warmth and resolve. She is the only non relative I’ve ever twinned with and the coauthor of a book we named but have yet to write. A conversation with Stephenie is always insightful and leads to plenty of laughs. Talk to her about crystals, fashion, or entertainment and you won’t be disappointed.
Dr. Wilson Okello
Groomsman
Wilson has been one of my favorite people since I was little. We both met in kindergarten and we have been close friends ever since, following each other through elementary, junior high, high school, and college. We both even came out to New England together for graduate school. I admire Wilson for his devotion to his calling, his love for empowering the next generation and for always showing graciousness and kindness towards others. Even though Wilson and I are the same age, I look up to him because of his wisdom and love.
Dr. Justin Reed
Groomsman
I have known Justin for almost 10 years, and he has become one of my greatest friends. Justin and I began serving at Myrtle Baptist Church together back in October of 2011. When we are hanging out together, we are probably talking about the Hebrew Bible, playing basketball, talking about basketball, talking about politics, or telling corny jokes. Justin and I were ordained together, and I am grateful I can share another momentous occasion with him.
Lamar Sykes
Groomsman
Lamar and I met back in 4th grade at the West Elementary gifted program. We really became friends in 6th grade as we played for the same little league football team called the South Side Penguins and competed in math competitions called Challenge 24. From sharing duties as scout team running back together in 7th grade to riding together in his red Pontiac Firebird car listening to Dipset and Eminem on our way to high school, Lamar has always been a great friend. Lamar’s love for his family, Black history and communal transformation continues to bring us closer together.
Thomas Toney
Groomsman
Thomas always has the answer. Thomas and I first connected back in AP chemistry as we were assigned as class partners for the year. I did very well in AP chemistry. Thanks Thomas! I am inspired by Thomas because of his love for teaching young people about the power of movement building and community. Thomas is a transformational educator, a gifted dialogue facilitator and a constant friend. If you want the best recipes, a template for radical self-care and great laughs then Thomas has all the answers for that.